Road surfacing machine



'May i6, i944.

Original Filed March 18, 1937 M. F. ALLEN 2,349,130

ROAD SURFAG ING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 `M. F. ALLEN ROAD SURFAC ING MACHINE Original Filed March 18, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.

INVENTOR.

May 16, 1944. M. F. ALLEN ROAD SURFACING MACHINE Original Filed March 18, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 hm, vom.

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Patented May 16, 1944 ROADl SURFACING MACHINE Morris F. Allen,l Canton, Ohio Application 2i) Claims.

My invention relates to machinesv adapted for building and maintaining highways and'which are particularly adapted to be used on gravel or dirt roads to ill` ruts and re-crown them after rains, where the time element is essential to attain efficient workmanship.

The primary object of my invention is the development of a road maintaining machine that will operateat a higher speed than the machines now being used.

Another object of my invention is to control the height of the blades and grading mechanism by hydraulic pressure effecting a means for remote adjustment of the blades while the machine is in operation.

Still another object of my invention is the development of a road maintaining machine having an automatic hydraulic adjustment of the height of the blades actuated bythe drawbar pull of the machine on the road surface preventing the blades from Aaccumulating too much material to be spread and likewise eliminating the raising of the blades manually and preventing the stalling of the pullingunit.

A further object of' my invention is toV provide a four wheeled vehicle to which my invention is suspended and utilized as a means of transportaticn over highways when the machine is carried to and from bases of operation at a speed of 40 miles or more per hour which is anV advantage over present machines. four wheeled` vehicle affords a suitable place for a mounting for my hydraulic control equipment. i

Still another object of my invention is the development of a road maintaining machine that will operate on the right hand side of the road, traveling with traidto prevent accidents.

Another object of my invention is the provision of an auxiliary blade or stone thrower which removes large and undesirable stones from the road bed and deposits them on the road shoulders or beyond. l

A further object cl my invention is theA provision of reversible blades, thus prolonging the use of the blades and making them self-Sharpening.

Another object is the provision oi reversible, removable shoes for the slide runners making it possible to reverse or renew them when worn instead ci renewing the entire slide runner.

A nal object of my invention is to provide a road maintaining machine inexpensive in manufacture, economical inoperation and light in construction enabling it to be pulled during op- March 18, 1937 Serial No. 131,695 Renewed August 4, 1940 The frame of this eration at a speed of 12 to 25 miles per hour by any one and one half ton truck.

These. .objects are fully attained by the novel construction and combination of units and part'sremotely and automatically controlled by the application of hydraulic pressure functioningl as an intermediary between these units and parts.

The many other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent when considering the following specification and drawings in whicht Fig. 1 is a plan view of my invention showing thedesired position of the combination of units andparts.

Fig. 2 is a side view of my invention showing one of the slideV runners and the structure of thecombined units. v

Fig. 3'is a sectional view of part of the structure supportingthe bladesv at a point where they converge and attached to the mechanism supported -by upright posts 'l-l attached on the slide runner.

.'Fig. 4 is a side view of vone of the hydraulic. blade setting mechanisms employed to raisev and lower the blades. v

Fig. 5 is a4 plan View of the front end of my. four wheeled vehicle showing an automatic hydraulic blade setting device actuated by the draw-bar pull of the pulling means against the tension of the spring |04.

Fig. 6 is a plan View of a hydraulic mechanism with means to elevate and suspend the grading unit from the frame of the four wheeled vehicle.

The Vembodiment illustrated is an improvement on my prior Patent No. 2,128,889, issued September 6,11938.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown a pair of slide runners l and 2. A cross member 3 is attached on the frontend and on the upper side of said slide runners.

On the slide runners I and 2 I have fixed a plurality of upright structures 4, as a supporting means for members 5. Near the front and rear structures 4--4 member 5 is bent downward and attached to the slide runners forming braces 6 6. Between the 'slide runner l and the member 5 I have two guide posts l-l rigid- 1y attached to the slide runner and also to the member 5. Guide posts 'l-'l are adaptable to :be received through two rings 8--8 on the plate 9. To rings 8 8 I have welded thereon projections ID-IU, having holes II-II through which one end of the springs l2-I2 are attached A-B and C as described in the last paragraph and illustrated in Fig. 7 of my drawings.

To the slidable plate 9 of the hydraulic blade setting device I3, at points A-B and C, I have bolted thereto rectangular plates 2|l-26--20 using bolts 2|, washers 22 and nuts 23 through` holes I6--I'i. To plate 29 at the point A and to plate 29 at the point B I have welded an angle bar 24 having one of its edges vertical and the other horizontal. To plate 20 at the point A and to plate 29 at the point C, I have welded another angle bar 25 having one of its edges vertical and the other horizontal. In vthe vertical edges of the angle bars 24-25, I have provided a plurality of holes 26. Said holes are drilled at points equal distance apart and of equal distance from the blade edges, affordingmeans for attaching blades 21-21 by bolts 28 and nuts 29.

In blades 21-21 I have also provided holes to coincide with holes 26, but the holes in the blade are spaced and located in such a way that the blades are interchangeablel and are reversible, making it possible to reverse or invert the blades when desirable, preventing the necessity of resharpening of said blades.

It is desirable that the blades be somewhat shorter than the width between the slide runners, and that the front blade contact the right hand slide runner at B and the rear blade contact the left hand slide runner at A, this leaves openings between the end of the front blade and the slide runner at A and between the end lof the rear blade and the right hand slide runner at C allowing excess material to feed back.

The blades converge on the left hand slide runner at A to allow my machine to operate on the right side ci the road traveling with traffic.

I have fixed to the angle bars 24 and 25 two brace bars 3|! and 3| which are parallel to the slide runners I and 2. To the brace bars 30 and 3| I have flexibly attached the ends of a pair of radius rods 32--32 and the opposite ends of said radius rods 32-32 are -attached to a fixture 33 by a bolt 34 in such a way that the bolt 34 serves as an axle to allow the opposite ends of the radius rods 32-32 to be moved up and down as desired.

Fixture 33 is attached to the frame bars 35 and 36 which comprises the frame of a four wheeled vehicle mounted on wheels 31 rear axle 38 and front axle 39.

It is desired that the frame of my four wheeled vehicle be higher than the grading unit, therefore I have provided upright supports 49-49 which are attached to the rear axle 38 and extend upward and are attached to the frame bars 35 and 36. At a point near where supports 49- 4|) are attached to the axle 38 I have attached braces 4|4| extending diagonally and are at tached to the frame bars 35 and 36. On the top of the front ends of the frame bars 35 and 36, I have welded a plate 42 and under the same bars 35 and 36, I have welded another larger plate 43 to form a fth wheel.

In plate 43 between bars 35 and 36 I have provided an elliptical aperture 91 adapted to receive a king pin 98.

On the front axle 39 I have welded two upright supporting members 45-145 that extend upward and inclining sufficiently to bring their ends approximately twelve inches apart.

Upon the ends of supports 45-45 I have weldedv a plate 46 having a hole 41 corresponding with the elliptical aperture 91 in plate 43. Through hole 41 in plate 46 I have a king pin 98 which extends through the elliptical aperture 91 in plate 43 into the eye of regulating bolt 96. The king pin 98 is held in place by a pin 99.

To the supporting members 45-45 I have attached the towing bar 49 having braces 56-50 welded to the member 49-49 and to the front axle 39 to insure a rigid construction.` Towing bar 49' is provided with an eye 5| affording means to fasten said towing bar 49 to a truck or tractor.

Referring back to frame bars 35 and 36 I have thereto attached two bars 52-53 as shown. Between and near the ends of bars 52 and 53 I have suspended two lever jacks 54 and 55 having lifting arms 56 and 51. To lifting arms 56 and 51 I have boltedly attached bars 58 and 59 and the opposite ends of said bars 58 and 59 are boltedly attached to upright structures 4-4. On bar 52'I have attached a hydraulic lifting jack4 60 having a piston 6|. Said piston 6| is Welded to a plate 62 having two holes therein receiving a cable 63 passing over pulleys 64-64 and attached to lifting arms 56 and 51.

In the rear of the hydraulic lifting jack 60, I have mounted an oil reservoir 65 and an oil pump 66 having a pump lever 61. The pump 66 takes suction through the pipe 68 and dis-- charges through pipe 69 into distributing manifold 16. Connected to manifold 19 I have three pipes I8 connecting said manifold 19 to the three hydraulic blade setting devices I3 positioned on the framing of the slide runners I and 2 at points A, B, and C. The uid in said pipes I 9|8|8 being controlled by valves 19a, 80a, and 89C. From said manifold to hydraulic lifting device 60 liquid is conveyed through pipe 12 controlled by valve h.

I have provided a pressure release at 1| whereby either one or all of the hydraulic adjustingV mechanisms may be controlled.

Near the front of my machine I have attached an angle bar 92 to frame bars 35 and 36, and to angle bar 92, I have attached an automatic hydraulic blade adjuster, with cylinders and 9| having pistons 93 and 94 contacting a plate 95.

Said plate 95 is welded or fixed to a regulating bolt 96. Said regulating bolt 96 is received through a hole |95v in angle bar 92 receiving a coil spring |04, the tension of said spring |04 being controlled by nut |00 and washer IUI.

To the hydraulic cylinder 9U, I have attached a pipe |92 which is connected to a pipe I8 communicating with the hydraulic blade setting device I3 at B and from hydraulic cylinder 9| I have connected a pipe |03 which is extended and attached to the pipe I8 controlling the fluid in cylinder I3 of the hydraulic blade setting device at the point A as illustratedin Fig. 1 and Fig. 5. Pipes I8|8|8 are preferably of flexible tubing on account of the slide runners and 2 being raised during travel from bases to points of operation.

Near the rear end of frame bars 35 and 36 and attached thereunder, I have a pair of hangers 13-13 extending downward to a point forming asno-,eraca rightV angle bend 14 on which rests; the side of a plate 15,. the. opposite'. end .ofv said plate. 15 isv welded to the uprightsstructures4 dil-40. Plate forms a platform for an. operator to stand while operating the lever 61 of the pum-p 66.

At the. lowest point. on bar; 13 I have attached a-movableA arm 16. The opposite end of said arm is hingedly attached to the angle bar providing a, means to hold the. rear end of the four wheeled vehicle in a central position betweenthe slide runners I and. 2.. To preventwearing of the slide runners- I and. 2. I have provided skid shoes 11 so constructed that they are interchangeable-and reversible which is desirable on. accountof `the front ends. wearing more than the rear ends.. These shoes 11-11 are. attached to. the under side of the slide runners. IV and 2 at two or more.Y

points by bolts 18.

On angle bar 25 near the point C, I have attached an auxiliary spreading mechanismv or stone thrower 8| being flexibly vattached tothe bar 25 4by the pin 83 and'. also ilexibly` attached to` the sliderunner 2 by the pins 82 and 84 and armtached between the slide runners, said blades being-raised orlowered within the slide runners by :a

the application of hydraulic pressure, operated manuallyor automatically by the draw-bar pull;

of the machine on the road bed and the combined runner members. and blades being raised in suspension. from the four Wheeled vehicle by one I hydraulicv pressure pump communicating to the several. other hydraulic lifting .devices ask de'- scribed and illustrated.

This isA av desired feature in eliminating lost time and procuring a definite setting of the blades. With the draw-bar blade. setting mechanism it is impossible.v to overload the-machine. inasmuch as when the load increases,the pullpbecomes greater and the spring compresses-allowingv the pistons toprotrude, giving space for more liquid from the blade controllingcylinders, thus the blade automatically raises and some of the excess material is allowed to feed backevenly over the road bed without altering the original blade setting. With the prior art machines `inpresent use we find. generally a. heavy piece of: equipmentfvery expensive andslow in operation, which featuresy I have avoided in my invention.. making a light inexpensive. and faster operating machine.-

Incperation, my road grading machine is. designed to be towed by a vehicle, by means of tow'- ing .bar 49. The slide runners are lowered. to contact the road surface and .withpump -6B.I force a liquid into the manifold .1 0,. and byopening the Valve 80a, the liquid. pressure is` trans-- mitted through pipe I'S'to the hydraulic blade setting device I3, forcing the piston I 4 and fixtures I5 and plate 9 supporting angle bars 24 and 25 with blades 21-21 downto a. point where they engage-the soil or road building material. The same operation is performed onthe' opposite ends of the blades and' when the desired setting is obtained. the valves are closed, insuring a se-t position of the blades. This engineering feature of using hydraulic pressure in= setting and controlling the height of the blades in preference to levers or screws, is more efficient and essential to procure the objects of my invention,

ineliminating loss of time in resetting blades'that work out of. adjustment by screwsA working loose, due to vibration. Furthermore, the hydraulic controlmechanism aiords a cushion upon which the. blades'work Vand eliminates chatter of the bladesand vibration in the frame of the unit, allowing high speed operation.

Theselnovel and'desirable features of the hydraulic blade and unit control make it possible to grade more miles of road per hour at less than half the cost per mile.

I Wish it to lbe .understood that I do not desire to be limited tothe exact details of construction shown. and described,l for obvious modiiications will occur to a personskilled ini the art.

Having thus described and illustrated my invention. what I' claim is:

1i.. In a road grading machine, a vehicle having a: drawbarresiliently extensible relative to said vehicle. a grading implement supported from the vvehicle and vertically adjustable relative thereto, duid. pressure `jacks for forcing the implement downwards. suitable fluid pressure system for manually controlling said jacks and a pressure regulator connected to the fluid pressure system and adapted to be operatively connected to the draw bar in such a way as to automaticallyv relieve the pressure in the system to an extent dependent upon the amount byiwhichthe draw-bar pull exceeds a predetermined value.

2.' In. a road grading machine of the character described, a vehicle having a draw bar resiliently extensible relative to said vehicle a grading iinplement supported; from the vehicle and vertically adjustable relative thereto, fluid pressure `jacks reinforcing the implement. downward, afluid pressure jack mounted on the frame of said vehicle for raising said implement, a suitable fiuid pressure system for manually controlling said jacks, a pressure regulator coning a draw bar resiliently extensible relative to said vehicle, a grading unit; reversible and interchangeable blades adapted to be attached to said grading unit andsupported from the vehicle and vertically adjustable relative thereto. fluid pressure jacks. for forcing the unit downward, a suitable pressure system for manually controlling said jacks and a pressure regulator con-- nected to the fluid pressure system and adapted to be operatively connected to-the draw bar in such a way asv to automatically relieve the pressure in the system to an extent dependent upon the. amount by which draw-bar pull exceeds a predetermined value and thereby to effect automatic adiustmentof the grading implement during operation.

i. In an improvement of a road` grading machinethe combination of a four wheeled vehicle, having al front wheel` structure, flexibly connected Vto the frame members of the vehicle, a hydraulic pressure regulator having ycylinders and pistons.` cooperating between the .iront wheel structure andthe vehicle .frame members, a pair oi slide runners, having reversible shoes, flexibly suspended in parallel relationship to the four wheel vehicle, posts on the slide runners, an upper `member supported by said posts, brace bars attaching the upper member to the slide runner; hydraulic adjusting devices comprising a cylinder .and single acting piston, said cylinders beingv attached to the upper member and the piston contacting an angle plate suspended from the upper member by springs, a grading unit comprising reversible self-sharpening blades uniformly attached to angle bars, the ends of said angle bars being boltedly attached to the angle plates contacting the hydraulic vadjusting de-A vices on the right hand sliderunner and the opposite endsl convergedly attached to 'the angle plate onthe hydraulic adjusting'device onthe left hand slide runner, radius rods connecting the grading unit tothe four wheel vehicle, a uid pressure system for manually vcontrolling the hydraulic adjusting devices and a pressure regulator connected tothe hydraulic' 'adjusting device on they left hand "runner-'and to the forward hydraulic adjusting device on: the Aright handA runner and operatively connected to' the draw-bar in such a way as to automatically relieve the pressure in said vhydraulic adjusting device to an extent dependent upon the amount by which draw-bar pull exceeds a' predetermined value.

5. In a road grading machine a Afour wheel vehicle having a draw bar resiliently extensible relative to said vehicle, a grading implement supported from the vehicle and vertically adjustable relative thereto, an auxiliary blade attached in the rear of said implement, a stone throwing device adjustably attached to remove desired oversized aggregate entirely from the road bed, iluid pressure jacks for forcing said implement downwardly, a suitable fluid pressure system for'- manually controlling said jacks and a pressure regulator connected to the uid pressure system and adapted to be operatively connected to the draw bar in such a way as to automatically relieve the pressure in the system to an extent dependent upon the amount by which the drawbar pull exceeds a predetermined value.

6. In a road grading machine, a four wheel vehicle having a draw bar resiliently extensible relative to said vehicle a grading implement converging at a point on the left hand side of said vehicle and vertically adjustable relative thereto, fluid pressure jacks for forcing the implement downwardly, a suitable fluid pressure system for manually controlling said jacks, and a pressure regulator connected to the fluid pressure system and adapted to ybe operatively connected to the draw bar in such a'way as to automatically relieve the pressure in the system to an extent dependent upon the amount by which draw-bar pull exceeds a predetermined maximum and allow the grading machine tov operate' on the right vhand side of the road traveling with trailc.

'7. In a road grading machine, a frame, a grading implement .operatively connected to said frame, pressure cylinders for moving the implement downwardly into engagement with the road surface, spring means for raising the implement, and mea-ns to vary the pressure in the pressure cylinders responsive to the force reiuired to pull the machine over the surface to be graded.

8. In a road grading machine, a frame spanning the surface to be graded, a grading implement operatively connected at each end with the frame, a pressure cylinder at each end of the implement for moving it downwardly into engagement with the surface to be graded,- spring means associated with each cylinder to raise theV implement, and means to vary the pressure in the pressure cylinders responsive to the force required to pull the machine over the surface' to be graded.

9. In a road grading machine, a frame spanning the surface to be graded, a grading imple.- ment operatively connected at each end withv the frame, a pressure cylinder at each end. of the implement for moving it downwardly into engagement with the surface to be graded, spring means associated with each cylinder to raise the implement, a pump to develop pressure and connections to deliver it independently into each of the `pressure cylinders, a pressure regulator connected to each of the cylinders, and means to vary the pressurey in the regulators responsive to the resistance encountered implement.

10. In a road grading machine, aframe, a.` grading implement operatively connected to said' frame, -pressure cylinders for moving the implement downwardlyinto engagement with the road surface, spring means for raising the implement,` a resiliently connected draw bar for pulling the machine, and a pressure regulator operable responsive to draw bar pull and connected to the pressure cylinders to vary the pressure therein to an extent dependent upon the draw bar pull.

l1. In a road grading machine, a frame spanning the surface to be graded, a grading implement operatively connected at eachV end with the frame, a pressure cylinder at eachend of 'the implement for moving it downwardly into engagement with thev surface to be graded, spring means associated with each cylinder to raise thev implement, a pump to develop pressure and connections todeliver it independently into each of the 'pressure cylinders, a resiliently connected draw bar for pulling the machine, and a pressure regulator operable responsive to draw bar pull and connected to each of the cylinders to vary the pressure therein to an extent dependent upon the vdraw bar p'ull.

l2. In a road grading machine, a pair of parallel slide runners, a grading implement adjustably supported between the slide runners, hydraulic jacks to force they implement downwardly relative to the slide runners to engage the Surface to be graded, spring means for raising the implement, a resiliently connected draw bar for pulling themachine, and a pressure regulator operable responsive to -draw bar pull and connected to the hydraulic jacks to relieve pressure in said jacks to an extent dependent upon the amount by which draw-bar pull exceeds a pre-l determined value. d

13. In a roadgrading machine, a pair of parallel slide runners, a grading implement adjustably supported between the slide runners, hydraulic jacks to force the implement downwardly relative to the slide runners to engage the surface to be graded, spring means for raising the imple-A ment, a resiliently connectedA draw bar for pu1l-,y ing the machine, a pressure regulator comprising cylinders in communication with the hydraulic jacks, and a piston for each of the cylinders connected to the draw bar and displace-v able in the cylinder to reduce the pressure therein to an extent dependent upon the amount by which the draw-bar pull exceeds a predeterminedvalue. 1- v 14. In a, road grading'machine, a pair of parallelslide runners, a grading implement adjustby the lgrading*v ably supported between the slide runners, a hydraulic jack operatively connected to each end of the implement to force it downwardly relative to a slide runner to engage the surface to be graded, spring means opposed to each of the jacks to raise the implement, a draw bar for pulling the machine, a spring interposed between the draw bar and the machine and yieldable responsive to the pull exerted on the machine, and a pressure regulator comprising cylinders in communication with the hydraulic jacks and a piston for each of the cylinders and connected to the draw bar and displaceable in thecylinder to reduce the pressure therein to an extent dependent upon the amount by which the draw-bar pull exceeds a predetermined value.

l5. In an earth-working machine, a frame, an

earth-working implement operatively connected,-

to said frame, pressure cylinders for moving the implement vertically in one direction, spring means for moving the implement vertically in the opposite direction, and means responsive to earth-reaction upon said implement as the machine moves over the ground for automatically varying the pressure in the pressure cylinders and thereby raising the implement to an extent dependent upon the magnitude of such earth-reaction.

16. In an earth-working machine, a groundsupported frame, an' earth-working implement operatively connected to said frame, a pressure cylinder for moving the implement vertically in one direction, spring means for moving the implement vertically in the opposite direction, a resiliently connected draft element for pulling the machine, and a pressure regulator operable responsive to draft eiort transmitted through said draft element and connected to the pressure cylinder to vary the pressure therein to raise the implement to an extent dependent upon the amount by which such draft effort exceeds a predetermined value.

17. In an earth-working machine having a ground-supported frame and an earth-working implement vertically adjustable relative to said frame, hydraulic mechanism including a cylinder, a piston in such cylinder, and a source of liquid under pressure connected to said cylinder for moving said implement vertically, a second hydraulic mechanism including a cylinder and an associated piston, said two cylinders being in communication with each other, and means responsive to the rearward earth-reaction on said implement as the machine moves over the ground for producing relative movement of the cylinder and piston of said second hydraulic mechanism to elevate said implement when such reaction exceeds a predetermined value.

18. In an earth-working machine having a frame supported from the ground through ground-engaging elements and a vertically adlinstable earth-working implement carried by said frame, mechanism for raising and lowering said implement, two independently operable control devices for said mechanism, said mechanism at all times being responsive to joint control by said two control devices, one of said control devices being manually operable to establish a normal elevation for said implement relative to said ground-engaging elements and the other being responsive to rearward earth-reaction on said implement as the machine moves over the ground to raise the implement from such normal elevation when such earth-reaction exceeds a predetermined value and to return it to its normal elevation when the earth-reaction is below such predetermined value, said last mentioned control device comprising a draft element through which draft-effort resulting from earth-reaction on said implement is transmitted, said draft element being longitudinally movable relative to said frame, yielding means resiliently urging said draft element rearwardly of said frame, and an abutment limiting rearward draft-element movement un der the influence of said yielding means.

19. In an earth-working machine having a frame supported from the ground through ground-engaging elements and a transversely extending earth-working implement supported from said frame, hydraulic mechanism for moving said implement vertically relative to said ground-engaging elements, said mechanism including a cylinder and a piston in said cylinder, a second hydraulic mechanism including a cylinder and an associated piston,'said two cylinders being in communication with each other, and means responsive to the rearward earth-reaction on said implement as the machine moves over the ground for producing relative movement of the cylinder and piston of said second hydraulic mechanism to cause said rst Ahydraulic mechanism to elevate said implement relative to said ground-engaging elements when such reaction exceeds a predetermined value.

20. The invention set forth in claim 19 with the addition that said ground-engaging elements engage the ground at points located both ahead of and behind said implement.

MORRIS F. ALLEN. 

